Effect of ultrasound guided pulsed radio frequency treatment on pain intensity, functional limitation and indication of surgery in patients with cervical disc prolapse

Abstract

The Cervical Disc Prolapse (CDP) considered one of the most common cases presenting to pain clinics and can cause a great deal of pain and limitations to patients’ daily activity and may require surgical treatment if not responded to conventional treatment modality. The Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF) represents one of the treatment modalities that may reduce patient's pain and improve lifestyle, its effect not fully studied yet. Objectives: This study tries to clarify the pain reduction effect of PRF when applied under ultra-sound guidance to patients with CDP and predict the percentage of the patients that can avoid surgery by getting benefit from PRF treatment. Patient And Method: the study designed as a comparative observational pre-post study, 40 patients was selected to enroll in the study, all complaining from CDP at one or more level that not responding to conventional therapy, the patients received PRF and assessed before and after application of PRF for 3- and 6-months period. Their assessment includes the pain intensity, functional limitation of their activity and whether they prefer surgical solution after PRF treatment according to their clinical improvement. Results: there were extremely statistically significant reduction in pain score and functional limitation after PRF, most patients prefer PRF modality over surgical solution. Conclusion: PRF can have satisfactory results in reducing pain for patients with CPD and it may reduce the need for surgery.